Miralax for straining?

[tomtom13]

I searched the forum and found that miralax is good for straining issues.

can someone tell me exactly what type of miralax and how much to give a 11 pound cat?

and do you give it all at once or can you divide up through the daily feedings?

and do you give it daily?

thanks all!!

~kelly

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

It's important to make sure there's not an bowel impaction before giving Miralax or any medication for constipation.

There is only one form of Miralax. It's a powder that you add to your cat's food. You use 1/8 of a teaspoon twice a day but please, see your vet first.

 

[tomtom13]

this is nothing new for him. he has been doing this for years now...the vet said not to worry about it as long as he goes. which he does. I am just now going to give the poor dude some relief because of his back leg weakness. do you still think it could be a bowel problem?

thanks

~kelly

 

[Deb & Wink]

Normal size poop or none at all?

The Miralax helps if the poo is not impacted and he is going normally. If the poo is hard but normal sized, you might be ok. Emphasis on might.

You need to give extra water with the miralax. It draws water from other parts of the body so make sure to add a tablespoon of water to each couple of ounce serving of wet food.

If no poo or little poo, I think a vet visit may be in order, to get him an enema.

 

[BJM]

You might find it helpful to read over Feline Constipation. It will give you many good ideas for management.

 

[tomtom13]

poo is normal and timely! I will read the feline constipation link. thanks!

~kelly

 

[Amy & Papaya (GA)]

Hi! I looked through your posts and it looks like you have just started to give methyl-B12 to help with your kitty's back leg weakness. You may find that it gradually helps with the constipation issues, since nerve damage from high blood sugar can be partly responsible for that, too. I've been giving my cat the B12 and I actually noticed an improvement in her constipation issues much before I started to notice any improvement in her walking. I still give her Metamucil and lots of water in her canned food, but she's more regular and not straining like she used to.

 

[tomtom13]

Thanks amy!!

I haven't started the Zobaline B-12 yet, it is in the mail/on the way. Good to hear it will help with the constipation issue as well!
how long has Papaya been taking the B-12? how long did it take to see improvement with the legs? do you crush the pill up in one feeding?

I am worried that Tom will be able to tell it is in his food so I was thinking of taking one pill and adding just a bit to every mini=meal he eats throughout the day. kinda sneak it in bit by bit. but maybe it is best given all in one dose?

~thanks

kelly

 

[Amy & Papaya (GA)]

Kelly - with some pills I have had to give in the past, I swear Papaya would spit them back out again, because all the wet food would be gone but the pill would still be there. But I`ve had zero trouble with the B12. The one I get is little round pills that have a score mark down the middle, so I break them with my fingers and then break up those halves again, and mush that up into the food. They already start to dissolve a bit when they hit the moist food, and Papaya just gobbles the whole thing down.

I started giving Papaya the B12 at the beginning of April, and at first was giving 2 pills (each 1000 micrograms, or 1 mg) a day. I knew that was a bit lower than most people were doing but figured it was a start. I felt I was noticing a bit of improvement in constipation issues but her legs were not improving, so at the beginning of May I doubled it to 4 pills a day (2 at each of the shot-time meals, just so I keep it straight). It`s really the last couple of weeks that I`m noticing she`s more confident about walking, so it did take a couple months at the higher dose. Papaya is really hard to regulate, though, and bounces up into higher numbers so I think if her blood sugar would straighten out the B12 would have a chance to help more.